The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-12-21

VI uTNkDOuS-DOAtS Wlll DOtIub
ever them, and the merchants stock in
trade, as far rs visible, was only com
posed of keg of native wine, ditto of
whisky, two boxes of cigars, few bags
of tobacco, dozen cakes of soap, sack
of coffee, one Of flour, and perhaps half a
dozen pairs of cheap shoes. The place
was crowded with men and women who
were smoking, drinking and conversing
in loud tones. The men were picturesque
in their costumes composed Of trousers
laced from the knee down, little jackets
that barely came down to their waists
and were covered with black braid, and
wide -brimmed white hats embroidered
with silver; but the women looked less
pleasing in their gaudily colored print
dresses and black shawls worn around
their heads and covering with their folds
the lower portion of their faces.
In one corner of the store was a
gambling liable at which an old man and
woman were playing monte. These
players Encarnacion found to be his
who was, and they at once came and
greeted me. After welcoming me heart
ilv, the old people retired to prepare the
dinner.
This Christmas dinner of my hosts
differed in no manner from their every
day meals, and consisted of the favorite
Mexican dish of chile con carae, or meat
stewed in red pepper with frijoles
a species of beans, and tortillas and
coffee
AS soon as our meal was over and we
had all lighted cigarettes, Encarnacion
and his father led me to q neighbors
house. Here we were met mt the door by
little old man with thin white beard,
who welcomed us heartily and bade us
enter. In the one room of the house,
which was not more than fifteen by
twenty feet in size, we found about
twenty five men and women. The men
were sitting on the bed, the bench and
the only two chairs in the room, and the
women were squatted on the floor around
the wall. Our host made one of his
guests give me chair, and Encarnacion
sat on the bed by my side. While we
were slipping the coffee which he had
given us, Encarnacion touched me on the
shoulder and whispered in my ear:
That is Yda Montoya sitting on the
floor over in the corner. Was ever maid
more beautiful, My heart breaks when
think Of her treachery'
looked in the direction he indicated,
and saw young girl whose attractions
would have made her noticeable any
where, and especially SO in Mexico.
Many romancers have attributed beauty
to the Mexican women, and when l first
went among that peculiar race, which re-
tains its semi barbarian customs, spite OF
its contact with the pushing Americans,
felt sorely disappointed in finding that
the large majority of the women had the
prominent cheek bones, dark skin, and
coarse, straight hair of the Indian, and
! plainly show that the Caucasian blood
which flows in their veins is in too
small proportion to do more than slightly
modify the Indian traits. Occasionally,
however, a young girl is seen who has in
herited the beauty of some noble anccs-
tor in CASTLE, and whose brilliant COM
pleXion, large black eyes and graceful
form make her the recipient of great at
tention in her native village.
Such was Yda Montoya, whose charms
had won the heart of my friend Encar-
nacion. She was sitting in the corner,
calmly putting a cigarette, and seem
entirely oblivious to the presence of her
devoted admirer.
Before we had been in the house many
minutes Il young woman came to the
door with an accordion under her arm.
A chair was at once given her, and after
leisurely lighting her cigarette, she be-
gan to play.
The room was so crowded that there
was but little vacant space; but never
theless, the owner of the house got up
and danced with "A woman. His dancing
was very good, as is always that of the
MeXicans, to whom dancing seems TO
come natural. The dance over, the as
sembled guests formed in line, two
abreast, in front of the door, Here we
were joined by two other men, one with
a fiddle and the other with banjo, who,
going ahead of the procession, led the
way to another house. We halted a
moment in front of this place, the musi-
clans started new tune, and then we en-
tered
The room we were in was large and
evidently belonged TO comparatively
prosperous people; it contained six beds
and good, hard dirt floor, and the walls
and ceiling were whitewashed. The
walls were decorated by a number of
pictures of saints and various Bible
scenes. Preparations were made for
another dance, and number of couples
took the floor.
Encarnacion was wild with excitement
because Yda was to dance with another
man, whose arm was already around her
slender waist l advised him that he
could never win the affections Of lda by
moping, that his better course was 10
provoke her jealously by ignoring her en-
tirey, and devoting himself to some
other girl, and yielding to this argument,
he went out at once to obtain partner
The musicians struck up IA waltz, and as
regularly as clockworK the heels of the
dancers beatupon the floor-the MeXicanS
everywhere have a habit of marking the
time with their heels. The Mexican
waltz differs essentially from that danced
in Eastern bathrooms, in that the dancers
never reverse, but keep on whirling
around IN one direction. Gradually one
couple after the other fell out of the
dance, until but two of them were left on
the floor. In one of the couples saw
Yda Montoya, and in the other Encar-
naciOn. Intense rivalry now animated
the men, and they twirled around more
vi and ctaTnt1aH thair faot mora